Keeping it classic

When Garys’ Men’s and Women’s Wear closed in the winter of 2016, the Bellingham community mourned. Gary Lupo and his wife Barbara had run the well-loved store since 1978 (preceded by another owner named Gary, hence “Garys’”). Customers enjoyed memorable service and a large selection of classic clothing and shoes for men and women. Thankfully, Chris Hayward stumbled across Garys’ during their final sale while visiting family in Bellingham.

Hayward had owned a store with her daughter in Eugene for 11 years beforemaking the move to join her mother and sister in Bellingham. “I had always thought of opening a store in Bellingham, but Garys’ carried a lot of the same lines that I did in Eugene,” she said. But, when she saw Garys’ final sale posters in November of 2016, she took it as a sign that it was time to move north to open Quinn & Foster, lovingly named after her two grandsons. Before moving in, Hayward did some major renovations to the Holly Street location.

Photographed by Kate Galambos

The store sparkles with new floors, paint, lighting, and decor. Bright white walls are illuminated by fun and artistic light fixtures. Large, graphic paintings hang along the walls and tall ceilings give the space an airy, modern feel. The fresh decor acts as the perfect backdrop for the beautiful clothing, jewelry, accessories, and shoes. Faithful Garys’ customers will be glad to find many of the same lines and labels found over the last 40 years. “I talked to Gary a lot before opening about what people loved and would be expecting,” Hayward said. Customers will find Garys’ familiar names like Vince and Mother Denim in addition to lines that Hayward carried in her previous store in Eugene.

Photographed by Kate Galambos

Beyond keeping true to some of the most popular lines carried by Garys’, Hayward has brought in an additional edge. The European style of many of the pieces are inspired by the eight years Hayward lived abroad in Italy, Israel, Spain, and France. “Europeans dress differently. They buy a few out ts for each season and then some additional classic items.” Rather than purchasing pieces individually, Hayward aims to help people cultivate a wardrobe by building strong relationships with each customer.

Visitors will find both men’s and women’s clothing, women’s shoes, scarves, bags, and jewelry, all with a modern contemporary feel. While not trendy, each piece has its own edge. “We aren’t trying to be Ann Taylor,” Hayward said. Chunky sweaters and leather-paneled leggings are mixed in with classic cashmere and trousers. Hayward said that her time working with her daughter in Eugene taught her about carrying items that appeal to a broad age range. “It is always nice to have a place where mothers and daughters can both shop.” Looking toward the future, Hayward said she is planning to carry more shoes and keep things fresh with a constantly changing inventory.

"Hayward had owned a store with her daughter in Eugene for 11 years before making the move to join her mother and sister in Bellingham. 'I had always thought of opening a store in Bellingham, but Garys’ carried a lot of the same lines that I did in Eugene,' she said. "